Explosive.



' which the following is a full, clear, and

' cally useless.

. ED srarns rnrnn'r carton.-

GERSHOM IVIOOBE PETERS, CINCINNATI, AND MILTON FLETCHER LINDSLEY, 0FKINGS MILLS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE KING POWDER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI,

0310, A conronarronor omo.

nxrrosrvn.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnns oM M. lnrnns, residing at Cincinnati, countyof Hamilton, and State of Ohio, and MILTON F. LINDSLEY, residing atKings Mills, county of lVarren, and State of Ohio, both citizens of, theUited States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExplosives, of

exact specification.

The invention relates to high explosives equaling in strength the higherper cents. of standard dynamite.

Black powder for blasting purposes is not of suflicient strength formost rock work, and is not capable of throwing out the tougher kinds ofcoal and slate often accompanying the same. It also shatters the softergrades of coal and renders much of it unsalable. It emits an offensivegas and causes such an obscuring smoke as toseriously interfere with theworkmen. It also is liable by its excessive flame to set off any damp orexplosive gasthat may be lurking in themine, causing. often greatdestruction to life and property. It is also more or less dangerous withrespect .to transporting and storing, as it may be easily set off by aspark or fire.

Dynamite as generally known and used is open to many objections. Itfreezes at fortyfive degrees temperature, and when frozen will notexplode or detonate, and is practi- The thawing of it out is attendedoften with great inconvenience and hazard. In hot weather, thenitroglycerin in 'dvnamite is likely to exude from the absorbent, whichmakes it exceedingly dangerous to handle or transport. If not properlymade and thoroughly neutralized, which is very likely to lee-the casebecause of ignorant or careless employees, decomposition is likely toset in, which has frequently been the cause of most frightful accidents.Dyna mite is also liable to be detonated by a sad den jolt or shock, andas a result serious accidents often happen with the best grades ofdynamite, apparently without cause or explanation. All of theseobjectionable features are intensified as the per cents. of strength ofdynamite are increased, so that when it is made to contain a largeamount of nitroglycerin, reaching as high as seventyfive or eighty percent. or more, it exudes Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, mil.

Application filed June (i, 1907. Serial No. 377,489.

more readily, is more sensitive, and is much more powerful in itsdestructive energy.

It is the object of our invention to furnish "an improved explosiveequaling in strength the higher per cents. of dynamite, which will atthe same time be safe to handle and transport, and which will not freezeor exude, or spontaneously detonate.

Aside from the risks and liabilities in handling and in using dynamite,it is objectionable for many kinds of work, as, for example, coalmining, as it is too violent and is found to shatter too much of thecoal; also in close mining or tunnel work the air becomes speedilyimpregnated with offensive and poisonous gases from the explosivematerials, making it impossible or dangerous at't-imes for men to work.It is also found that the shocks from such explosives are so severe thatthey stir up all the latent gases in the mines, and also cause secondaryexplosions of a serious nature; and a farther object of the invention isto produce an improved form of explosive equaling in strength the higherper cents. of dynamite, but in which these objectionable features lastmentioned are reduced to the minimum. To accomplish. this purpose'acombination of three ingredients, which have heretofore been used tosome extent. in certain combina tions in the production of explosivecompounds, is used. These ingredients consist of nitrate of ammonia,chlorate of potassium, and mirbane oil. To these'ingredients a certainamount of any suitable cellulose fiber as wood meal preferably made fromwhite pine is added in order to lighten up themass and aid in the rapidtransmission of heat Making a total of 100 per cent.

This formula gives a strength of about sixty per cent. dynamite, thequantities of each being equal. The nitrate of ammonia has greatexplosive force because of its capacity for rapid and extensiveproduction of gas, while the combination of chlorate of potassium andmirbane oil is capable of great explosive force because easilysusceptible of detonation. The mirbane oil or the pasty condition of theexplosive due to its use serves as a protection to the nitrate ofammonia, Which rapidly deteriorates when exposed to .the atmosphere.precaution, however, it is preferred to pack this explosive, whenprepared and ready for use, in hermeticallysealed cases. The Wood mealis added to lighten the mixture, to furnish necessary carbon and toquicken the flame by aiding in its rapid distribution. Wood mealprepared from White pine is preferred. The solids, consisting of thenitrate of ammonia, chlorate of potassium and Wood meal, after beingpulverized, are thrown together in a mixer in approximately theproportions above designated, then the ten per cent. of nitro-benzene ispoured over the mass, and all are thoroughly Worked into one substance,after which the explosive is packed in cartridges, ready for use. Whenused it is fired by means of a primer as in the use of dynamite.

We claim:

' 1. An explosive compound consisting of a As a further mixture ofnitrate of ammonia, chlorate of potassium, mirbane oil, and Wood meal.

2. An explosive compound containing the following ingredients insubstantially the proportions indicated, nitrate of ammonia fifty percent, chlorate of potassiumthirty per cent, mirbaneoil ten per cent, andWood meal ten per cent.

8. An explosive compound consistin of nitrate of ammonia, chlorate ofpotassium, finely divided cellulose, and mirbane oil all in a thoroughlyintermixed mass.

4:. An explosive compound consisting of nitrate of ammonia, potassiumchlorate,

finely divided cellulose, all intermixed With mirbane oil. to render themass plastic.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, 1nthe presence of subscribing Witnesses, on this 3d day of JuneA D. 1907.

' GERSHOM MOORE PETERS. MILTON FLETCHER LINDSLEY.

I Witnesses: I

ELDON R. JAMES, A. W. BEEKLEY, ED FROHLIGER.

